Northeast Student Gets First-hand View Of Politics

CLASS NOTES

Recently, Kristin Wenger played hooky from school - but she had the blessing of her parents. She took part in the week-long Page and Messenger Program in the Florida Legislature.

Wenger, a student at Northeast High School in Oakland Park, put down her school books and picked up law books while she worked for Rep. Tracy Stafford, D.-Fort Lauderdale. In addition to her duties of running memos and amendments to and fro in the House Office Building, she participated in a mock session of the House of Representatives with other messengers from around the state.

The program is designed for students to get a close-up view of the political process by working in the state Capitol. Stafford said exposing young people to the legislative process can prepare them for the responsibility of public service.

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The 1994 Visions Literary Magazine at Deerfield Beach High School was rated excellent by the National Council of Teachers in English. The rating, given this May, was part of the 1994 program to recognize excellence in student literary magazines.

Also, members of the staff received an award and trophies from Deerfield Beach High for their work on the 1995 magazine. Honored were: Ivelisse Nieves-Ortiz and Karen Perris, co-editors-in-chief; Becky Lambert, art editor; Noah Marienthal, layout-/graphic design editor; and Melissa Kozma, public relations.

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In December, first-graders at American Heritage School in Plantation held a bon voyage party for a group of teddy bears going to unknown destinations. Parents and friends of the school volunteered to take the bears on winter vacations in the hopes of getting the bears started on worldwide adventures. The bears were left on a plane or cruise ship for other travelers to pick up and take with them.

Each traveling bear had a backpack that contained a photo of the child who owned it. In addition, a brief summary of the pro-ject (a "passport'') accompanied the little bears on their trip. People who read the passport were asked to put small souvenirs (such as stamps or coins) in the backpack as well as write a note in the bear's journal.

The bears began returning to the school a few months ago. Some traveled around the United States while others ventured overseas. One bear, which re-entered Florida through Orange County, made a few friends in the police force there and was named an honorary citizen.

Another bear wound up taking a cruise to Acapulco, Costa Rica and Aruba. After returning to the United States, it "hopped" a flight to England and was given an honorary library card. In Nottingham, it stopped long enough to have its photo taken on the shoulder of Robin Hood's statue. Other bears have "called" the school from Japan, Ireland, Hawaii and Mexico.

The program was intended to teach the students about geography, but they got an additional lesson - there are a number of caring strangers all over the country and around the world.

-- For Christopher Freda, a student at Griffin Elementary School in Cooper City, safety is something close to his heart. When he was 2 years old, he nearly drowned after slipping and falling into his family's swimming pool.

Christopher, now 7, participated in the Safe Kids Check America program this past May. Along with nine other children from around the country, he was chosen to participate in the program because of his experience with unintentional injury.

The program is designed to encourage children and their families to complete the Family Safety Check - the top 10 steps parents and caregivers should take to help keep children safe from preventable injury.

Christopher visited Washington, D.C., where was part of a news conference that featured several speakers, including former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. In addition, Christopher met with members of Congress on child injury prevention programs.

For a checklist on how to keep your family safe, send a self-addressed envelope to: Family Safety Check, National Safety Council, 2099 W. Prospect Road, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33309.

If you have information on school-related awards, classes, activities and programs, write to Class Notes, Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 33301-2293. Photographs will be accepted if subjects are identified. If possible, announcements should be sent two weeks in advance of event.